A healthy body needs a healthy mind because good mental status is vital for an individual’s physical development and growth. Usually, we speak about adults’ mental issues, but we must consider children’s mental health as our priority, as a stable childhood makes a balanced person in the future. Our child’s mental health has a complex relationship with the ability to succeed at school. Our mental health affects how we act, feel and behave in different circumstances.
Importance of identifying mental health
Mental health in children can be complex for us to identify as a parent because we usually consider the unusual behavior of our child with some other environmental or habitual factors. In contrast, the reality is that most children suffer from severe mental illness and disorders during childhood, either in school or with family. We as a parent take it for granted, and the child grows with the disease, which eventually affects our child’s overall health and personality. Therefore, it is essential to identify the problems and resolve them as soon as possible. We should observe our children closely and constantly and seek a psychological or medical cure for any situation. Mental health disorders in children disrupt social skills, confidence, and behavior while developing age. We never talk about the mental health disorders of our children, but we should literate our environment about the early treatment of our children.
Mental health disorders in children
Children facedifferent mental conditions due to many reasons at school going age. The pressure on a kid during their school life is immense from parents and teachers. Often children fear low grades in school or becoming a victim of bullying from peers. Sometimes the teachers are too strict and punish the child regularly. All these factors collectively deteriorate the mental health of our children, and the child becomes mentally ill with time. These mental disorders include;
- Anxiety
- Attention-deficit
- Autism spectrum
- Eating
- Post-traumatic disorder
- Schizophrenia
Signs of mental illness in children
We should observe our child regularly for any signs of mental health problems because early diagnosis makes the treatment more accessible.
- Weight loss
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Headache or stomachache
- Difficulty in concentration during study
- Poor school progress
- Constantly avoiding school
- Mood swing
- Drastic changes in behavior and habits
- Eating disorder
- Irritability
- Thinking or talking about death and suicide
We must go for treatment and other medical or psychological remedies for our children whenever we notice a sudden or even a gradual change in children’s personalities.
Treatment
Healthcare providers have different methods to deal with these mental issues. The treatment could be psychological or medical, or a combination of both. For example, psychotherapy helps us talk about our problems and issues so our therapist can give us solutions to the situation. In therapy, the psychologist arranges a meeting with children and talks about their condition and behavioral changes. In addition, doctors can suggest antidepressants, anti-anxiety, stimulants, and antipsychotic medications.
So we must consider an entry-level school screening for the diagnosis of symptoms which would help us to provide early intervention for our children.
Take Home
School-going children are the most ignored and important age yet to consider for mental health. One may not take notice of the unusual changes occurring during this stage due to other rapid transitions happening at this age. Still, with keen observance, one can read the signs and symptoms that can help the child with early diagnosis and treatment. Experienced health practitioners are available to diagnose and treat mental health problems to aid children in coping with pressure, overcoming fears, and getting mentally stronger.